Office of the Privacy Commissioner

What is a “compliance advice letter”? Julia Broughton
9 September 2019 at 10:29

Investigating complaints is an important function of our office and a considerable part of our workload. When we receive a complaint, we make an initial assessment about what steps we will take next. In some circumstances, we will investigate. In other instances, our office may decline to investigate.

complaints

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

The Privacy Act doesn’t generally apply to dead people. This is because the Privacy Act protects the rights of “individuals”, and section 2 of the Act defines an individual as a “natural person, other than a deceased person”.

complaints, health, Health Information Privacy Code

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett
13 February 2018 at 12:14

If you work in a small practice or medical centre, there’s every chance you may not have received many requests for personal information from patients. The starting point is to know that the Privacy Act gives people the right to make a request for information that is about them.

health, Health Information Privacy Code, complaints

What's your complaint worth? Riki Jamieson-Smyth
15 November 2017 at 11:10

Reviewed and updated May 2025

complaints, Human Rights Review Tribunal

Shaming and blaming Charles Mabbett
15 November 2017 at 10:43

Should a business use social media to shame scam artists, shoplifters or bad debtors? When someone feels ripped off, this appears a natural course of action but it can be risky. Is if you believe you have evidence that a crime has been committed, contact Police.

complaints, IPP11 - disclosure, Facebook

Confirming a requester’s identity Charles Mabbett
17 October 2017 at 16:55

Updated by our Guidance team in March 2025.

complaints, IPP6 - access

Scammer then complains of privacy breach Charles Mabbett
29 September 2017 at 16:01

There’s a general expectation that if you make a complaint to our Office, you haven't brought the breach of privacy upon yourself through your actions. In this case, our complainant was a man who had ripped off a business. He had scammed the business out of several hundred dollars worth of goods but became upset when the business named and shamed him on its Facebook page.

complaints, Facebook, IPP11 - disclosure

Why you won't get a legal "opinion" from Enquiries Karin Carter
11 October 2016 at 12:04

Callers to our Enquiries service often start with “I need some legal advice”. If the caller means guidance on his or her Privacy Act rights or the obligations of an agency, then we can help. But if by “legal advice” he or she means a legal “opinion” about how the Privacy Act might apply, then this is something our Enquiries service can’t do.

complaints, enquiries

Viewing entries tagged with 'complaints'

What is a “compliance advice letter”? Julia Broughton 9 September 2019 at 10:29

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen 24 July 2018 at 08:51

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett 13 February 2018 at 12:14

What's your complaint worth? Riki Jamieson-Smyth 15 November 2017 at 11:10

Shaming and blaming Charles Mabbett 15 November 2017 at 10:43

Confirming a requester’s identity Charles Mabbett 17 October 2017 at 16:55

Scammer then complains of privacy breach Charles Mabbett 29 September 2017 at 16:01

Why you won't get a legal "opinion" from Enquiries Karin Carter 11 October 2016 at 12:04

What is a “compliance advice letter”? Julia Broughton
9 September 2019 at 10:29

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

Advice for doctors when there’s a complaint Charles Mabbett
13 February 2018 at 12:14

What's your complaint worth? Riki Jamieson-Smyth
15 November 2017 at 11:10

Shaming and blaming Charles Mabbett
15 November 2017 at 10:43

Confirming a requester’s identity Charles Mabbett
17 October 2017 at 16:55

Scammer then complains of privacy breach Charles Mabbett
29 September 2017 at 16:01

Why you won't get a legal "opinion" from Enquiries Karin Carter
11 October 2016 at 12:04